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Chatters told police in interview that he used gay dating apps and had suspected 'Ben' was someone he knew who wanted to expose him as gay, as his family and friends did not know.

He said he wanted to expose that person and had a 15-year-old attended, warned him not to engage in conversation with older men.

Defending, Marc Brown said: "He is a man of previous good character, it's his first time before the court and he has found the whole experience deeply upsetting and embarrassing.

"My heart sank a little bit because there seemed to be a failure to accept some responsibility, standing by the act he put forward earlier that he met a child to warn him. I took him to task this morning and I asked him directly the question 'what was going to happen would you have met Ben?'

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Sex offenders in court

"He was frank enough to say that sexual contact had been contemplated. He does not know whether he would have gone through with it.

"He accepts the prosecution case in full."

Chatters was handed a 15-month sentence, suspended for two years on Monday (May 21).

Before passing sentence, Judge David Pugh said: "You thought you were communicating with a teenage boy and you arranged to meet up and it is clear that the intention was for penetrative sexual activity.

"I have to take into account that this was an attempt and the substantive offence could not have been completed.

"Previously, you were a man of good character. The issue for me is that whatever the sentence I pass, it seems to me you have started to address your behaviour.